THE road to the ANC Musa Dladla Regional Conference continues to get bumpier day by day, with some members staging a sit-in at the party’s main office in Empangeni on Wednesday.
They were protesting against the nomination process for candidates, which they claim is being manipulated. Police had to called in to ensure stability in the buildings.
Addressing the media outside the offices, ANC Regional Chairperson Thulani Mashaba said he was ‘shocked’ by the conduct of his comrades who, he says, acted outside the parameters and constitution of the party.
‘We received calls this morning that there was chaos unfolding outside our offices, and that people who were making the noise were members of the ANC.
‘When we got here we find these people who were showing signs of disgruntlement.
‘They said they were not happy with how the nomination process was unfolding, but from what we know, there are only seven branches that have so far completed their nomination processes.
‘These tendencies are so foreign to the ANC.
‘Members know that the nomination process started last week on 2 August and will run until 7 September this year, after which an opportunity to appeal will be opened, for those who will not be satisfied. This is the ANC process that all our members know.
‘Many of these people who are here come from branches that have not even started holding their branch meetings.
‘These are very ‘confused’ members of our movement.
‘If a member at a branch level is not happy with anything, he or she must forward that concern to the branch secretary first, then to the Regional Secretary, and to Provincial Secretary.
‘It puzzles me as to why these members did not utilise any of these avenues, before embarking on this exercise.
‘But one thing for sure we will not be deviated from continuing with our preparations for the conference.
‘I can assure you that, it’s all systems go.
‘Come October 10-12, the ANC in Musa Dladla Region will be going to this conference which will be held at a venue still to be decided, probably the University of Zululand,’ added Mashaba, who has been re-nominated by some of the branches.
